It’s hard to imagine how people lived without electricity in the 18th century. In New York, particularly in Queens, electric lighting emerged in the 19th century, bringing many challenges along the way for residents aiming to obtain quality lighting for their buildings. Read on in this article on queens-future. to discover how electric lighting came to Queens.
First Lighting
In the late 1700s, New York authorities were not responsible for street lighting at night. People commonly used candles and oil lamps to illuminate buildings.
In 1762, a tax was implemented to fund the installation of lamps throughout New York City, covering the cost of purchasing oil for lighting. Lighting these lamps was somewhat hazardous, leading many to hire pseudo-experts to maintain them. Interestingly, oil lamps were significantly more effective than candles.
In March 1823, the New York Gas Light Co. was established, becoming the first company to secure a contract for manufacturing and laying cast iron pipes across New York counties, as well as providing gas to light the main streets.
The project was completed in 1825, making Broadway the first street to be lit by gas. A year later, the company received a second contract to expand the gas pipeline network. The second project stipulated the installation of 2,700 lamp posts between the Hudson and East Rivers.
In 1880, another company, Brush Electric Light and Power Co., installed the first electric street lighting along Broadway from 14th to 26th Street. Fifth Avenue became the first street with electrified cast iron lampposts featuring a unique design, a project managed by the Edison Illuminating Company.
Despite some improvements, electricity was mainly used in the city’s commercial districts, while gas lighting remained popular in residential areas of Queens.
The Development of Electricity in Queens
In 1893, the gas lighting industry experienced a breakthrough with the invention of the Welsbach mantle, which provided much brighter white light. In 1904, more than 15,000 old gas lamps in Queens were modernized to incorporate the Welsbach mantle.
By 1913, gas lighting was still widely used in Queens, with continued efforts to enhance it through testing with gas mantles. Electric lighting also continued to evolve, and by 1913, Queens had 5,000 electric street lamps installed.
In the 1930s, gas lighting fixtures began to be replaced by incandescent light fixtures, which featured a special tungsten filament for reduced energy consumption.
By the 1930s, incandescent bulbs were proven to be the most efficient lighting type, leading to technological advancements in their production. Various New York boroughs, including Queens, began to see the establishment of incandescent lamp manufacturing companies. Thanks to these new technologies, homes started to enjoy stable, high-quality lighting.
Modern Electricity in Queens Borough by the Numbers
- In 2022, carbon dioxide emissions per capita in Queens increased by 2.5%.
- The borough produces 72.71% of its required electricity annually, with 27.9% sourced from neighboring boroughs.
- As of 2022, Queens has a population of 2,405,464. It generates 12,285,467.01 megawatt-hours annually, with a production of 5.11 megawatt-hours per capita.
- Queens ranks 9th among the boroughs in non-renewable generation per capita.
- The largest electricity provider in Queens is Con Edison.